“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9)
HONG KONG SE): The Yuen Long Catholic Secondary School launched an innovative evangelisation programme called “Evangelisation in Five Senses: Inclusive dancing and dining in heritage” using the five senses (touch, taste, hearing, visual and smell) to lead students to a deeper encounter with God. The new programme sees students and the elderly share joy and peace with one another in God’s love.
The programme is sponsored by the Evangelisation VISA Card Trust of the Hong Kong Central Council of Catholic Laity. The programme covers visits to heritage churches for elderly care and two-day student retreats. It aims to develop more diversified evangelisation means to spread the good news of Christ’s salvation.
In early 2024, nearly 100 student volunteers from Form 2 went to the Precious Blood Retreat House to prepare their body, mind and soul for the coming evangelisation excursion service, “Caring for Elderly Heritage Church Tour”.
Led by dance therapist, Crista Kwok, the students first practiced inclusive dance and mindfulness exercises to harmonise their body, mind and soul. Many energetic students of Form 2 Faith Class especially liked the interactive ball passing game. The dance hall was filled with the laughter of students and teachers.
Nurture students to care for the elderly
Referencing bible teachings and elder carer tips of the Health Department, Religious Education Teachers, Mr. Mak and Ms. Kary Chan, using role paying, coached student volunteers on skills need for caring for frail older people such as escorting them up and down staircases, in and out of washrooms and serving them meals.
Rosanna Chow, the project manager of Jockey Club’s CADENZA e-Tools for Elder Care project at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, was invited to introduce the iHealth Screen mobile app. Student volunteers learned how to assist older adults in installing this free app on their mobile phones.
The app covers 11 common health topics that older adults care about: frailty, sarcopenia, mobility, self-care, oral health, nutrition, memory, hearing, vision, mental health, and incontinence. It also provides a free self-help health screening test for older adults to understand health conditions at any time, anywhere.
Cai Liang Kun of the Form 2 Love Class, liked the carer skill training the most. He learned how to speak with tenderness and recalled many joyful memories with the elderly.
Showing the love of Christ in colour
Panel head of Religious Education, Ms Shum joined student volunteers in prayer, meditating on bible passages and painting silk scarves, creating gifts for the elderly they were going to serve.
“I was glad that I could write blessings of peace for the elderly. I especially drew a cross as a gift for them too.” Xu Ka Wai of Form 2 Faith Class said. He also hoped to pray for the old nuns living in the elderly home of the Precious Blood Retreat House when he expressed this prayer intention.
During the afternoon Taizé prayer service, Deacon Gamaliel Cheng played guitar and taught all the students to sing hymns, listen to bible passages and share in faith.
Li Ho Yan of Form 2 Peace Class, who helped teachers place candles in the church, said that she liked the Taizé hymn very much. “To be able to write down my wishes and present them in front of the altar, I truly feel blessed by God. I think God is as dear as a friend. I am confident that I can pass the examination.”
Other students were impressed by the peace they found in the chapel. They were comforted by God’s presence and desired his blessings upon them.
